Crop profile method in the identification of transformations in soil attributes by agricultural use

The study was carried in 2002, in Rolandia, north of Parand State, and had as objective to asses the chemistry modifications on a clayey Oxisol, comparing the conventional management system of sugar cane used by growers of Rolandia Cooperative Agriculture, and the systems of no tillage with wheat crop in rotation with others crops, both with eight years of succession, using as reference a native vegetation area localized beside the evaluated systems. Six trenches were digged in each system, for carrying about morphological study by the method of Crop Profile. Based on the identification of the homogeneous morphological units found in the description of the soil profile, samples were taken for chemistry analysis. No tillage system improved the main chemistry and morphological soil characteristics in the 0-0.40 m layer. Sugar cane conventional system exhausts the soil in some profile structures. The Crop Profile Method helped to have an appropriate notion about the main changes found in the studied treatments.29348549

The use of Open Reading frame ESTs (ORESTES) for analysis of the honey bee transcriptome

BACKGROUND: The ongoing efforts to sequence the honey bee genome require additional initiatives to define its transcriptome. Towards this end, we employed the Open Reading frame ESTs (ORESTES) strategy to generate profiles for the life cycle of Apis mellifera workers. RESULTS: Of the 5,021 ORESTES, 35.2% matched with previously deposited Apis ESTs. The analysis of the remaining sequences defined a set of putative orthologs whose majority had their best-match hits with Anopheles and Drosophila genes. CAP3 assembly of the Apis ORESTES with the already existing 15,500 Apis ESTs generated 3,408 contigs. BLASTX comparison of these contigs with protein sets of organisms representing distinct phylogenetic clades revealed a total of 1,629 contigs that Apis mellifera shares with different taxa. Most (41%) represent genes that are in common to all taxa, another 21% are shared between metazoans (Bilateria), and 16% are shared only within the Insecta clade. A set of 23 putative genes presented a best match with human genes, many of which encode factors related to cell signaling/signal transduction. 1,779 contigs (52%) did not match any known sequence. Applying a correction factor deduced from a parallel analysis performed with Drosophila melanogaster ORESTES, we estimate that approximately half of these no-match ESTs contigs (22%) should represent Apis-specific genes. CONCLUSIONS: The versatile and cost-efficient ORESTES approach produced minilibraries for honey bee life cycle stages. Such information on central gene regions contributes to genome annotation and also lends itself to cross-transcriptome comparisons to reveal evolutionary trends in insect genomes

Are recovery stories helpful for women with eating disorders? A pilot study and commentary on future research

Background: Anecdotally it is well known that eating disorder memoirs are popular with people with anorexia nervosa and recovery stories are readily available online. However, no research to date has empirically explored whether such stories are helpful for current sufferers. The aim of the current pilot study was to explore the efficacy of recovery narratives as a means of improving motivation and self-efficacy and to qualitatively explore patient perspectives of such stories. Method: Fifty-seven women with anorexia nervosa and subclinical anorexia nervosa participated in this online study. Participants were randomised to either receive recovery stories or to a wait-list control group. After completing baseline measures, participants read five stories about recovery, and completed post-intervention measures two weeks later. Results: The quantitative results indicated that reading stories of recovery had no effect on motivation and self-efficacy over a two-week period. In contrast, the qualitative results showed that the stories generated thoughts about the possibility of recovery and the majority indicated they would recommend them to others. Conclusions: This study adds to a growing body of research exploring the integration of voices of lived experience into treatment approaches. Future research should focus on 1) identifying for whom and at which stage of illness recovery stories might be helpful; 2) the mechanism via which they might operate; and 3) the most helpful way of presenting such stories

Análise diagnóstica do atendimento pré-hospitalar para acidentes e violências contra idosos em Curitiba (PR, Brasil) Situational analysis of the pre-hospital health services for attending accidents and violence against the elderly in Curitiba (PR, Brazil)

O estudo compõe uma análise situacional dos serviços de atenção a acidentes e violências, em Curitiba, focalizando as condições gerais de infraestrutura, planejamento e apoio no nível de atenção pré-hospitalar, considerando os serviços pré-hospitalares móveis e fixos, dirigidos ao atendimento do idoso vitimizado. Foram evidenciados pontos positivos, lacunas e necessidades de adequação para atender às diretrizes nacionais. A investigação integrou abordagens quantitativas e qualitativas e se pautou nos princípios da triangulação de métodos. Conclui-se que o tema dos acidentes e violência contra idosos comporta importantes melhorias nas ações desenvolvidas pelos serviços pesquisados: (1) ações preventivas não fazem parte da rotina dos serviços; (2) a maioria dos serviços não desenvolve atendimentos específicos, direcionados às demandas particulares dos idosos; (3) a experiência dos entrevistados revela dificuldades de obtenção de leitos hospitalares, para encaminhamento ou transferência de pacientes idosos. O enfrentamento das questões relativas aos acidentes e violências contra idosos em Curitiba impõe considerar a organização de dados, fluxos, capacitação dos profissionais e planejamento no desenvolvimento de programas de prevenção, assistência e reabilitação aos idosos vitimizados.<br>This study is a situational analysis of the health care services for attending accidents and violence, in Curitiba, focusing the general conditions of infrastructure, planning and support at the pre-hospital assistance level, considering mobile and fixed emergency services dedicated to the victimized elderly. Positive points were evidenced as well as gaps and needs to meet the national guidelines. The investigation integrated quantitative and qualitative approaches and it was carried out on the grounds of the triangulation of methods. It is concluded that on the theme of accidents and violence against the elderly still there is room for important improvements in the actions developed by the researched services: (1) preventive actions are not part of the routine of the services; (2) most of the services does not develop specific services, addressed to the peculiar demands of the elderly; (3) the interviewees' experience reveals difficulties for obtaining hospital beds, either for referral or transfer/admission of patients. Facing the issue of accidents and violence against the elderly in Curitiba requires considering the organization of data, flows, training of professionals and planning in the development of prevention programs, attendance and rehabilitation to the elderly